Artist statement
For over 15 years I have painted professionally in watercolor, for my own greetings company, and for children’s books. While still very much enjoying watercolor illustration of children’s books and other special projects, I now paint in oils, to enjoy a larger format and new feel to the colors. Current work is a suite of images reflecting my own Midwest natural environment.The paintings are often from what is suggested by specific places and times in Wisconsin. They do not have fences, barns or any human contact imagery and if animals are included, they hopefully draw you in, to share a bit of the magic of it all, rather than serving as iconic “prey” or “wild deer” archetypes. They are in fleeting portrait like catching someone’s eye in passing.

The paints are mineral-based oils, the traditional colors of the classical painters, and the impressionists; they come from the earth elements and lend their color to nature well. I enjoy playing with light and color. Often the sky areas are created and dried for a week or so and then the images are formed from there. Because of dry time between stages, several paintings are worked on in tandem. I am enjoying seeing the bones of the land laid out sensually, and then building a scape as if dressing a bower, by starting with the farthest background images, and working forward in space to the lead in path/sightlines to draw you in.